Cade Cunningham has emerged as the driving force behind one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 42-32 record after the franchise posted just 14 wins last season. The former No. 1 overall pick has silenced critics while establishing himself as a frontrunner for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
"I think I can be the best basketball player in the world. I think I'm on my way," Cunningham told ESPN about his ambitions. "I want people to understand that and that's what I'm working to show people every time I play."
Cunningham is averaging career highs across the board with 25.7 points, 9.2 assists and a 46.2% field goal percentage. Cunningham's leadership qualities have proven equally valuable, especially during the team's darkest moments. After the Pistons set an NBA record with 27 consecutive losses in a single season last December, he gathered his teammates and urged them: "Don't jump off the boat. Right now is the easiest time to stand off and be on your own, but we need to continue to lean on each other and continue to push each other."
"Very rarely do you find a guy who can grow and develop and not leave people behind," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Cade has the uncanny ability to not only take care of himself and do what's best for his development and growth, but he makes sure that his teammates are always right alongside."
Zion Williamson believes Cunningham isn't receiving proper recognition: "I don't think people are giving him his full respect. In my opinion, he's an All-NBA player this year." Former Pistons great Grant Hill, to whom Cunningham is often compared, appreciates the similarities: "He thinks the game at a very high level, and he's got just this incredible feel and incredible basketball instincts."
Pistons owner Tom Gores expressed unwavering confidence in his franchise player. "What I saw in Cade is not something you just see on the court. He embraced the adversity; he didn't put it on anybody else," Gores told ESPN. "Part of the reason I didn't blink is he didn't blink."
The Pistons signed Cunningham to a five-year max extension this past offseason and he is expected to qualify for the Rose rule provision to elevate it from $224 million to $269 million.
